<bb> PWW's Battleboard (Santen, Arch[er]angel)

Considering Druid's Repository as the closest comparison, I think this is costed somewhere between perfect and a tad overcosted, seeing as this both has the only red mana restriction and the bigger one, which is only lasting until end of combat (as opposed to until end of turn or indefinitely like Repository). I guess it's a decently creative enough response, and the name of the card mostly fits the RP. I do think, as a nitpick, that the card's game and the mechanics make little sense with one another, even given flavor text. Maybe it would make more sense with whatever art you'd invison it happening with.

I'll give this one an 8/10.

---

---

The trail Coven seemed to form resembled a large web of rocks much like the one that revealed the mysterious disappearing runes. Soumaw was no expert in these fine meddlings with magics, however. It could not expose the nature of the ward or those runes anymore than it could do so when they first entered the caves. Unsurprisingly Coven's smoke also showed some of the cave entrances, though shallow-seeming when they explored them, were linked to the warding mana. That had to mean the cave entrances were at bare minimum disguised in some way to appear shallower and conceal the true entrance, whether that true entrance was those caves themselves (leading to tunnels currently disguised as though walls were in front of them) or some other places. It could also have more physical or even magical protections, though. Either way, eliminating the wards was a necessity to move forward.

"There are... Two... Paths... Careful.... Magic... End... Or..." Soumaw pointed to the rocks, approaching and tracing a vague, meaningless symbol with a claw, then turned Its hand upside down and closed it. "Trample...through..."

For different reasons, either risked alerting the cultists of their presence, and as such of the incoming attack. If on one hand, the more they waited the more likely it was the cult would be aware of the death of one of their members and the presence of two intruders at their "front door", on the other brute-forcing it could set of some kind of trap or alarm they had set up.

---

---

(gift)

While many base power/toughness-modifying static effects tend to be valued at around 5 mana at a base, I think a good chunk of that is that they are often meant to affect your opponent's creatures who is likely to be ill-prepared (at least compared to you) for wide board nerf. So I decided to look at this card as more of a general buff cards since that's the main intent here, but cards that give an unconditional +1/+1 buff start at 3 mana, and while this can nerf creatures that are bigger than 2/2 on your side, if anything you're likely to run a card like this when your creatures aren't even 1/1s let alone bigger than 2/2 unless the effects justify them despite the nerf. That is to say I think the fairest comparison is indeed those unconditional +1/+1 buffs without additional effects, and those are 3 mana typically 2 colored. All in all, I think the card is undercosted.

That being said, I do really like this kind of fuzzy almost bad-seeming rules setting, it tickles the Johny in me. The flavor text is also really nice and while as discussed it's not the best thing ever as a response to a gift it's if nothing else a pretty creative response.

So despite the problem with cost, I think this card earns enough brownie points to look it over and give it a 10/10.

---

---

"No...choice..." Soumaw simply responded. It didn't break the rocks, however. If this was going to be brute-forced anyway, and if they were going to be found out anyway, then it made no sense to try to break this matter from the edge. The shadow planeswalker returned to one of the cave entrances accompanied by the ghost It had created and gestured at it to stay back. It seemed to swallow air, lower chin growing like a croaking frog for an instant and glowing purple and green spots appearing seemingly from within the body like rays of lightning appearing in a storm, but with no spark just the afterglow.

The wards, whatever they were about, were not based on souls, nor on any magic Soumaw was familiar enough with to undo or know right where to hit. Though it might be wasteful, there was no choice but go at this through volume over precision. The spots kept appearing on Soumaw's body, bloating it where they showed up, sometimes to the point of pressing the planeswalker against the cave ceiling as its body growed even taller for a moment.

Inside the tunnels, two guards sat on their backs, bored from their jobs. Sure, they understood the importance of what they were doing. But while their brethren worked on the rituals to bind servants or traveled far to act as agents of their organization, they sat there looking at empty caves nobody would know were there. Even on their side there was only a blurry image of what was going on outside. No one could fault them for being a little distracted from their posts, and they could always look there once in a while and...

The guard's screams were accompanied by those of the torrent of shredded spirits as two massive shadowy claws burst through the shattered ward and ethereal green fire seeming burned through what was left of the ward in that area, the way fire lit at the center of a paper sheet burns it from in to out.

Were Tokata to look inside, she would find the two spear-armed cultists sitting on their buts with black and red robes, barely holding onto steel spears and visibly shaking. Lines of runes travelling through the cave walls swiftly towards the center signaled the end of their surprise factor.

---

---

Conjuring naturalize (using art Ixalan art since more fitting, but card showed up in several core sets)

I think as just one of those options (attacking or becoming a spell target) this would be fine as a Ghostly Touch or Grasp of the Hieromancer. Tapping on heroic should add additional costs though, so I think at least more.

That being said, this is a good support card for my own entry, in more ways than may seem immediate. Yet it further enhances the creature and makes it harder to block, but also it can provide a creature to be the target thanks to Bind.

All in all, I give it 9/10.

---

---

Soumaw glanced over at Tokata and narrowed an eye. Although It had souls to spare, the loss of that many simply to "open the door" as it were without even being allowed to replace them would generously be described as a steep inconvenience. Hopefully there would be a way to take them more covertly soon, else Soumaw might have to give up on holding back in front of the mask-maker.

Soumaw nodded at Tokata's suggestion, albeit "sneaking" was probably pointless by now. Still, no harm in having one of those little mask things the other planeswalker used scout ahead for them. Soumaw Itself had used spirits to scout or search for it, so It understood the utility of such methods, slower though they might be. While Tokata presumably sent "Coven" out to see what was ahead, Soumaw bent down and grabbed one of the spears, holding it out for Tokata.

"Fragile... humans... protect...yourself..." Though Tokata's magic was intriguing, nothing gave Soumaw any indication she could fight. She could stop a fight, and she could stop it very well, but were she caught by surprise some form of defense seemed necessary. If Tokata's information about the potential guiding stone truly led Soumaw were It wanted, she was too valuable to let die here.

Meanwhile, were Coven to keep going down the tunnels, it would see several stones, now ones which stood out far more, glowing with several runes. Were would be signs of digging, and better lighting with torches of blood-lit fire the deeper one went. A guard on patrol might miss the tiny masks if they hid well, but soon it would come onto enclaves were a larger group of warlocks gathered together in conversation, in hurried and angry tones about the intruders.

---

---

I'm not sure how fitting this cost is, if only because each of these effects individually is again costed at around two mana for reach and one for deathtouch (which is weird to me, but that's just how the cards are), but that's on auras, and on creature these two things combined show up almost exclusively on two mana creatures. Other than that, it's a simple and nice response and given the card it's responding to I think it would be difficult to get too creative with the reply card, so I think I will just take the creature reference as the right cost. The other one is slightly higher, but close enough anyway.

I give this one a 10/10.

---

---

The moment It saw the way Tokata held that spear, Soumaw's eyes narrowed again. This time, however, it was not from displeasure. Rather, it was a feeling the monstrous planeswalker didn't experience often, but when It did, it felt strongly. Soumaw didn't usually consider why people would shake, after all the reason was usually rather obvious. They were afraid of Soumaw, or afraid of their own demise, or at least nervous and uncertain. There was no need to question it, and it was virtually always proven right the moment they were subsumed into Soumaw, the few exceptions generally proving to be madmen enthusiastic about the fight they were about to lose, as though that made them any less prey to Soumaw. Still, perhaps it was a good thing they were like that, they often had some skill at fighting that made for useful infusions in creating Soumaw's minions. Had they been more rational they might have had better strategies, and in possibly even evaded Soumaw for longer than It would care to chase them.

Tokata's hesitation was different. Her shaking was not born out of fear - otherwise she would have been shaking the whole time she was with Soumaw - not even for her life as the spear was clearly not a threat to her. If anything it was meant to make her safer.

"Shaking... why?..." Soumaw inquired, unable to contain Its curiosity while they waited for Coven.

(....)

After the masks's return, Soumaw accompanied Tokata as they made their way down the tunnels, guided by the pathways Tokata's creation had discovered and some aid from Soumaw's ghost, whose most important contribution proved to be shocking the few guards that caught them just long enough for Tokata's magic or Soumaw's actions to take them down, left just asleep or half-dead but ultimately not actually dead, even if Soumaw was reluctant to be so wasteful. It was just as they were arriving at the gathering Tokata had seen that a careless touch on a wall triggered a wave of runes to briefly flash across the cave's ceiling and fade out again, followed by a rain of purple spell darts. Soumaw tried to cover itself with its arms, the magic imbued in the darts not being as effective on a being like It still stung if nothing else since they were not purely physical. When the darts carved themselves onto the ground they left little "stains" of rot, even upon rock. What could wonder what would have happened to a living creature hit with too many of those.

This was followed by a bolt of blood-red fire unexpectedly hitting on Soumaw's soldier and causing It to screech.

"There they are!" Screamed one of the warlocks, pointing at them and being quickly joined by some others. The trap had seemingly warned them of Soumaw and Tokata being there.

"I will show them to you now, Grand Caller!" Said another of the cultists who began to spin his hands, creating a set of purple runes in the air that spun in a circle, creating ripples in the air within which changed to a view of a blurry throne with a cultist with a more elaborate attire sitting upon it. Meanwhile his fellow cultists conjured more fire from cuts in their palms or began to prepare spells of protection for the one creating the display or for the starting slower summoning spells at the back. Their willingness to sacrifice the disposable yet protect those with more relevant functions was a hallmark of the cult's ruthless teamwork.

---

---

It is extremely difficult to judge this card on comparisons since it's trying to do something particularly unique with its bundle of effects. There's an Angel's Grace in here, plus a delayed Flawless Maneuver and Righteous Charge and I think we can safely ignore the use to block an opponent from paying for stuff with life since that would give a big buff to your opponent's creatures next turn anyway. Considering how much it has going on though, I think it should probably cost more, but I think the best change for this card would actually be to make the buff be at the beginning of your next upkeep instead. This would prevent you from building up soldiers first that would then get buffed or otherwise spending mana and doing things before the buff occurs. That way only the creatures you keep alive during the turn of invulnerability are the ones you get to pump, which would be synergistic in one sense (no need to block if your life total won't change) and interesting on another.

Now, all of that being said, I do really like the sheer creativity in this card and the way it fits into the context of the roleplay. It's got one of those really unusual effects as well, which is another thing I love about it, even if in execution (by necessity though it may be) it reads a little clunky to me.

I'm giving this card an 8/10.

---

---

Soumaw wasn't always Soumaw. At first It was just a spell, a curse that spread wide consuming the souls of those caught within, and withering whatever came into its path. The work of a Djinn with thoughts to be grander than what it is was, and the spite to seek out a delightfully vengeful wish to twist. Soumaw had become what It was due to the many things it had consumed and subsumed into Itself, each contributing to the formative mind and each a source of the abilities It now had. Soumaw consumed, and then used what it had consumed. It was different from a real organism only in that Soumaw used the immaterial to replicate the material, rather the material to duplicate its own flesh.

As the great light enveloped Soumaw, the planeswalker sensed something akin to a soul at work. Further, it sensed reluctance. However, as a feeling akin to that which drove Soumaw to chase after the prophecy filled It within, appearances - even to Tokata - became a secondary concern. Dealing with the foes in front of them was the only thing that still mattered, and Soumaw would use whatever It could get a hold of to that end.

Soumaw's body began to expand, the surface of Its body extending countless tiny shadowy tendrils towards the aura around it. The aura seemed to shift to stay out of them, and it wasn't like Soumaw could pull in the white mana. Something else proved to be more effective, however, partially releasing some of the souls stored within onto the surface. From Tokata's perspective, it would appear as though Soumaw's body was growing larger and more flesh-like on the surface, reminiscent of an amalgamation in patches of various creatures as the white mana's purity revealed the souls reaching the surface for what they were - or, better put, once had been. White mana was not within Soumaw's purview to use, but it nonetheless was absorbed inside this layer of souls connected and bound to Soumaw's body, with tentacles and wings, fur and scales, one arm replaced with an enormous claw even thicker than an arm and another split into several long tendrils.

The blessing had filled Soumaw with a renewed purpose. It could tell it was foreign to It, but that purpose aligned well with Soumaw's goals anyway, so It was driven to carry it out.

The bloodfire hit against Soumaw's body, tingling. With a large swoop, Soumaw threw the mages at the front against a wall and proceeded to wrap them with tendrils on Its arm. One remaining charging at It with a dagger, only to find his torso pierced and thrown against the magical barrier that had been conjured earlier.

Soumaw had to defeat them. That was the purpose. It glanced over at the warlocks struggling against the materialized tendrils.

Use anything you can.

Soumaw brought down the warlocks in an arc against the barrier, lighting some ripples in it from the impact. Blood was spilled from the wounds the cultists had opened themselves.

Soumaw had a goal. To eliminate the threats in this case. Now it also a mission. A mission it had allowed Itself the need to fulfill. To defeat the cultists in front of them.

Soumaw lifted them and smacked them against their own barrier again. And again. And again. And again. And again. Two of the summoners failed to keep up their concentration as their fellow cultists were smacked over and over, until at last the barrier shattered, just as the last summoner managed to invoke an armored demon.

Soumaw lifted the cultists one last time and dropped them inside Its mouth. Then, It roared.

---

---

Conjuring a Knight's Pledge from Magic 2019




and targeting it with:

The most directly comparable card I could find was Murktide Regent, but there are obvious issues of using a 3/3 flying mythic as a comparison not to mention delve which always makes things overcosted by design. Plus having stuff in your graveyard and making them leave is still pretty different.

So instead, assuming what is considered a standard deck of about half-creatures and half-noncreature spells, I think its more or less safe to compare it to cards like Liliana's Elite. I think the cost considering that is pretty perfect, with two mana without a body but three for the bind which gives it a body.

My one problem with this card is a bit of a flavor fail. In RP there's an enchanted spear causing an attack on the demon - so far not the best fit but you could see why the +/+ would be there - but then there's the effect on the mind which isn't represented at all. Even without the RP the name discordant form also suggests some other effect on the mind. I suppose it's also not the greatest synergy with the gift, but it does have synergy with it in two fronts (since Assimilation does add a spell to your graveyard and make two copies of this if used on it), so it works well enough. Either way, no big deal, just the flavor thing was a bit disappointing.

I give this card a 9/10.

---

---

The rampage continued, Soumaw no longer paying attention to what Tokata was doing. There was only thing it was focused on right now, fulfilling this mission It had, to defeat the cultists. It thrusted the claw-arm toward the final summoner, but found it blocked by the armored demon's battle axe. Soumaw roared and pushed downwards, slowly gaining ground on the demon. Purple veins showed themselves under the helmet of the demon as it exerted itself to hold back the planeswalking monster. Then, fwoosh, a spear propelled by blue smoke zoomed toward the demon and jammed into its neck. The demon stepped back from the pain and the shock, and part of its shoulder pads were knocked off by Soumaw's claw on its way to wound the summoner behind the demon.

Seeing this, the other cultists gasped. Even the one holding the vision spell finally dropped his concentration, allowing it to fade away. He slid his right foot back on the rocky floor, and took off with a scream. Panic set into the two unsuccessful summoners after seeing that, who also turned to run.

Meanwhile the demon had now seeming just stopped, it's mind being disturbed by the spear. Even with a mortal wound, the creature simply couldn't make up its mind to move. Without the immediate threat or interference of the demon, Soumaw's priorities shifted to the cultists trying to get away, and It launched Its tendrils to grasp them, raised them up into the air even as they continued to flail fruitlessly, then swallowed them whole.

The last of the cultists in that location ran to the demon.

"You stupid thing! What are you doing! Fight! Protect me!" He kicked and punched the demon he had summoned and bound. With no reaction, the cultist clenched his teeth and cut the demon with a dagger. "Follow my orders! You can't let them get any deeper! You can't let them kill-"

With a scream, the demon finally moved, cutting the cultist in front of it in half and moved about frantically like a wild animal. The moment it turned its back to Soumaw, the demon was pierced in the gaps of Its armor my Soumaw's claw, and its body disintegrated into hot ashes.

Soumaw stood there, quietly. With the blessing fading, like air escaping from a very small hole it gradually faded from Soumaw's body, returning it to what it was prior. During that time, however, despite a slight emptiness Soumaw felt something it never had before. A feeling of fulfillment, knowing the task was done. It would take It some moments to return to Its senses.

---

---

I am unsure of the wording of this card, but I could not find any other enchantments with this kind of restriction, so here goes nothing:





(feel free to treat this one as a gift or an attack as you prefer)

So, looking at something like Feast of Victorious Dead and Silkguard, I think distributing +1/+1 counters like this could be done for cheaper, and combined with Harvest Season or Throne of the god-Pharaoh I don't think there's an expectation in design of a large number of tapped creatures at a given time, even when you have control over it. I think a card like this might work well at just . That aside, I like the way it interacts with the previous card but it doesn't really get any points for RP integration.

8/10

---

---

Still affected and slowly recovering, Soumaw did little but nod at Tokata's words and let the mask-maker go ahead deeper into the tunnels. Those tunnels alternated between steeper inclines and flatter ground, and though one wouldn't notice it at a glance there was a very slight curvature to them, indicating something like a spiraling structure. signs of the place being inhabited - beyond the torches and the patrols that is - were beginning to appear, ashes, food crumbs and dried blood.

And then, suddenly, everything went dark. Tokata's entire surroundings were covered in darkness, no light from blood-lit torches or runes, and the dark seemed so deep as to swallow whatever new flicker of flame or light was lit within.

"Good afternoon, miss. My name is Jabul, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." A voice called from the darkness. There was the sound of the ruffling of clothes, though nothing could be seen. "Oh, my apologies, you can't see my bow. I wish the spell allowed me to be a little more selective, but alas. Might I ask your name, miss? And I do have another question as well, if you don't mind..."

There was a moment of pause, and the next words were seemingly whispered right against Tokata's ear.

"...what is your purpose here?"

Again, a pause, and the sentences continued at the proper distance.

"You see, to my master's understanding you don't appear quite as... shall we say 'impulsive' as your big friend back there? Hungry maybe? So I can't help my curiosity. You are here, though you don't seem nearly as happy to attack us, so what's driving you? Are you here for revenge? Perhaps to ensure protection for that village? Or maybe your goals are more aligned with that monster's? Or could it be you covet the treasures within the mountain? Depending on what your goals are, I could assist you. An amicable solution would be far preferable for both of us, wouldn't it?"

---

---

Absolutely love the creativity on this response, and albeit part of the credit goes to the original Vow Of cycle, you deserve the one for thinking of something so fitting. Curiosity effect is probably a little stronger than a typical keyword, especially given you also draw a card, but I feel the lack of increased cost is compensated by the greatness of the response in terms of score.

In short, 10/10.

---

---

The sound of clapping followed Tokata's curtsy.

"Beautiful, miss. You certainly know your manners, and I really appreciate that, you know. Most people around here would be befuddled by simple polite greeting. It might be rude to pry, but you wouldn't happen to be of a high-class background, would you?"


"The title of a sage befits you, why indeed it's wise to be cautious of a deal with us demons. Well, a deal with anyone, one might add. Still, surely someone with your wisdom should have less to worry, as you would no doubt be able to discern a favorable deal from fool's deal. Not that I intend to propose any of the latter, of course." There was a moment of silence. "You might not see it, but I bowed again. I wish to express my sincerity, to start us off on the right foot. And for that reason, I offer my master's sincere apologies over the incident at the village. That one had gone rogue you see. Made a deal with a particularly destructive, I suppose you call it a "cousin" of mine. But, though there might have been a bit of collateral damage, as you yourself saw as soon as the rogue dropped his guard my master was able to deal with him swiftly. We do not wish to bring harm upon that village, no no. The only reason one of our members was at the village is because we must keep careful watch over the nearby area. My master would be willing to sign a blood contract if you wish, to prevent us all from bringing any harm to the village. I am sure we can arrange a sufficient agreement and you may leave here without any further bloodshed, other than the necessary for the contract ritual, that is. I understand you are weary with that smoke you're blowing at your feet, but allow me one more gesture of goodwill."

Having spoken that, the demon stepped forth, purposefully stepping into Tokata's smoke.

---

---

Teferi's Ageless Insight is just about the best comparison, and considering that, I think this card is really fair if not slightly overcosted. It fits really well with the RP too and is a good response to boot.

10/10

---

---

While that conversation was taking place, Soumaw shook Its head and 'blinked' as much as a creature that didn't truly have eyes could. It looked around for a moment, before recovering the vague recollection of where Tokata went. It was strange that the mask-maker had gone so far ahead on her own, but it didn't change what Soumaw had to do next, whether or not this was the result of her getting into some kind of trouble.

As Soumaw advanced, however, It found Itself confronted with a sudden wall. It was pitch-black, not in a way where light gradually faded from lack of illumination but sudden, abrupt, like a massive pit but without a fall. Soumaw placed a hand upon it, finding the whole thing to be strangely solid, yet spongy. If Soumaw pressed on it, it could force is hand to sink into it, but the resistance was like that of water except several times greater.

Wards, barriers, now whatever this was. Some new impassable obstacle kept appearing on the way. Soumaw grunted a bit with frustration.

(....)


The demon didn't reply to all that Tokata said, but when she mentioned someone going after her, then it interfered.

"No, no. We have no intention of being involved or involving you, none whatsoever. But I see, it might be difficult to trust us after someone said that, even if they were going rogue against us. Still, you've made a wise decision. If you'll excuse me, I need to approach you for this. May I have a lady's hand?" The demon took a few steps closer to Tokata and reached out a hand. Its fingers were overly long and ended in claws, but they did not see to intent to hurt Tokata, at least not in any direct way.

---

---

Both of the closest comparisons, Bow of Nylea and Ohran Frostfang are at 3 mana and 5 mana respectively, with the bow being a legendary. While it's true that they have other abilities and those abilities are arguably better than your card's, I do think an effect giving wide deathtouch should cost more.

As a response I'm a little iffy on this card. If on one hand deathtouch is a fitting and clever response to power reduction, on the other decks running a card like this probably wouldn't have high power to begin with, so deathtouch might be useless for them at 0 power post Shield of the Dark.

The card fits the roleplay very well though.

I think with these problems the card would be 8/10, however since I'm a bit more uncertain about them and I liked how it goes with the roleplay, I'll bump it to 9/10.

PS: The wording was intentionally allowing those cases of opponent's attacking each other, since I figured if the card is making opponents attack each other instead of you that's still a win on a defensive card like this.

---

---

The demon chuckled.

"Oh, my bad, it appears there's been a misunderstanding here. My intention isn't to guide you through the dark, miss. I suppose you could eventually reach my master if you kept exploring these tunnels, but I intended to take you to him directly through a small teleportation spell. It teleports myself and anyone I'm touching, you see, hence why I required your hand."

The demon reached out his open palm again. If Tokata were to take it, she would feel a tingling through her body, and though she couldn't see it it would begin to appear transparent as did the demon's, both slowly vanishing from the spot they were in and re-materializing in large cave-like room, decorated with symbols of the cult all over and atop a small flight of crudely made stairs, the hooded cultist from the mirror spell sitting on a throne.

---

---

Bothersome Quasit seems like a good reference point. While ETB is stronger than casting as a trigger (tokens trigger it without casting), 3/2, menace and harder blocking seems above that edge considerably enough to make this costing for the card quite good. Goading is super flavorful here and pretty fitting for the RP, and it synergizes as response.

I can't give 11/10, so I'll give 10/10.

Edit: I ended up replying to the previous version, so..




I think this one isn't as well-balanced, and especially from a fun gameplay perspective getting it out too early would be an issue. Were this the version I saw originally, I think I would the score might have been 9/10 or 8/10. That being said, I won't drop the score as I feel that would be in bad taste at this point, so just stating that for reference.

---

---

As abrupt as it was, the wall suddenly disappeared before Soumaw's very eyes. In front of it were the same torches and rune stones that lit the passages thus far, and halls leading to a doubtless extended network of tunnels. Tokata was nowhere to be seen either, but Soumaw supposed she might have gone on further ahead. Especially if she was caught on the other side of that black wall, she might have seen little choice but to move forward. It was much the same for Soumaw at this point, so It kept advancing while keeping an 'eye' out for both potential threats and the mask-maker herself.


(....)


"Yes, I suppose you could refer to me that way." Declared the man in the elaborate hood. He seemed...unamused. "Jabul, have you made the proposal?"

The masked demon bowed his head

"Yes. I have settled on proposing the blood contract for the village's safety."

The cultist leader clicked his tongue.

"If I must, so be it. Though it dreads me to spill some of my blood for a human. Seeing as you brought her here, I take it she has agreed to the proposal?"

The demon bowed his head further, and shook it.

"Well, not quite. However, she talk with you, master, and I don't believe she has dismissed the idea entirely."

"She wishes to talk?" With the way the markings around the leader's lips and going up his face (as far as could be seen from what was left exposed by the hood) moved, it seemed evident he raised an eyebrow. He sighed. "Well, speak then. But know we are not alone here."

Tokata could have begun to better recover from the newly restored light. The room was a hallway carved into the natural inner caverns, with a somewhat chaotic arrangement of tables with maps and other documents on them, many made from animal skin. There were markings and symbols of the cult everywhere, in large amount in blood or precious metals, perhaps melted somewhwere using the treasures at the corners. These were hardly unguarded, as a number of cultists was also in this room in various spots in the shadows, with most of the light concentrated on the throne. The floors had bones, burned papers and cloth, and of course dry blood.

---

---

(attack)

A stupendous entry, the cost seems very much perfect though there are few examples to compare it to, I do think those there are suggest that is the right cost for it. The rarity is also spot-on as this isn't quite bombastic enough for mythic, but it's also really not something you want to see a lot, even in one of the few environments it would be most useful in since it would shut down that environment entirely (a tribal one). Lastly it works very well as a really creative response to the Throne.

10/10

---

---

Without Tokata's spirit having scouted ahead of this portion, Soumaw came to regret not immediately thinking of using the bound spirit with It to do the same, as a number of traps activated upon Its passing by them. Darts of stinging magic-infused needles, jets of flame that made Soumaw screech, magical binds that the planeswalker had to burst out of and delayed It, much to Its annoyance. It also gave time for more cultists to arrive, now with their summoned demons already in tow, little imps throwing small bolts of fire at Soumaw. It shook Its body, black smoke puffing out on every side of It. Under typical circumstances, Soumaw would have the trick of planeswalking away if the need to retreat were to arise. However, the arena was too vast and unpredictable. Were Soumaw to planeswalk away, it might never again find Itself on this region and able to reach the monument the mask-maker had spoken of. Tokata's sudden absence lost Soumaw a guide, and It could not afford to to leave the plane, but without a gaze to make a good impression to, It also didn't have to hold back on Its usual methods.


(....)


A heavy sigh followed Tokata's suggestion to "get to know each other better", but the leader of the cultists gestured away those who seemingly became agitated by the 'impertinence' of the intruder.

"Thank you. I suppose I should thank you as well, since your actions aided in having him lower the protections that kept our scrying efforts from finding him. Trying to "make sure people don't get hurt" is a respectable occupation, as well. Foolish, yes, and ultimately fruitless, but admirable as goal. Even for the wise, some matters are only learned with experience, however." The cultist seemed to look up, though with the hood little more was shown of his head than the neck that also had the tattoos. He lowered his head again. "Do forgive me, we are not here to discuss your way of life. Those who do not call me 'master' address me as First, you may as we- ... What are you doing with that weapon?"

---

---

Fixed version of the card above. I don't normally do this, but this time it was one of those things I knew I had to add and didn't notice I didn't until you pointed it out, so it doesn't sit right with me to not post the fixed version.

---

This card should definitely be blue. Temporary exile is more of a blue or white effect, and debate is definitely more in blue's flavor too.

Aside from that, four mana for a temporary board wipe, even though it's all permanents and not just creatures, seems like a pretty fair card. It also works well with the RP flavor-wise, although there's some flavor oddness with the way the card works mechanically and the card's supposed flavor, so it doesn't internally work as well.

As a response, I suppose it works, but not quite what I would call inspired.

All in all, I'll give this one an 8/10.

---

---

The light of the flames faded gradually as the demon was brought deeper into Soumaw's mouth. The imp's flame glowed within, lighting up the mouth as though it was ready to spew out magma, and the eyes like a lighthouse's lamp, until finally it was subsumed by the shadows. Soumaw grunted. Eating a demon was always such a bland experience, hardly different from taking in a rock, except the demon tended to dissipate easier. It was Soumaw's nature to consume what It came across, and to absorb the souls of anyone It did, but demons and angels had the warped souls of beings born like Itself, embodiments of mana and not true living things. Sure, he could use the remnants of the mana, but the rest of it was as though swallowing air, and the taste was just as empty.

Perhaps this was how humans felt about cannibalism.

Soumaw abandoned the few remaining corpses and moved ahead deeper down the tunnels. As It turned a corner, a dagger came flying in Its direction, passing through Soumaw's forehead and embedding itself on the wall behind It while the dark mist simply reformed its former shape.

"What?!" Screamed the dagger-throwing cultist. She then turned to the squad of summoned imps behind her. "What are you waiting for, SET THAT THING ABLAZE!"

Soumaw raised Its arms to block out the incoming bolts of fire, bearing with the stinging. Though it wasn't much, each time an imp threw one of those bits of fire the others seemed more motivated, laughing as though playing a game and mocking Soumaw. The cultist was rather impressive herself, given the sample thus far anyway. Soumaw couldn't determine she had summoned all those imps herself, unlike the others so far that only managed to bring out a single demon at most, but she was commanding them, and still fighting herself as well, or she would've if she hadn't apparently already given up her "throw daggers at the shadow monster" strategy.


(....)


"It really does feel as though you're mocking me, but that is fine. I've had plenty of it, after all. It was all before I had seen the proof myself, and before I could show it to them myself. The truth is there is no stopping people "getting hurt". They always will. After all, this world itself is hell. Don't think I'm being metaphorical either. I've searche for it, you know. There was no end. This world has everything, so varied and unpredictable, but everywhere I went, I found suffering. And the more I walked, the more I found, and endless horizon, deserts and forests, and seas and fires, and yet there was no end, there was never an end, it wasn't even as though I'd found myself back where I started, the world was simply boundless. And thus I realized. A world unending and filled with suffering. You can't escape it, you can't find relief. You can find death - but do we truly die here? What else could such a place be, but hell?"

He stopped. He looked around the room, to the cultists nodding along.

"Well, I'm certain you believe I am deranged. Most do... at first. But, my goals are simple, Tokata the sage. The prisoners of hell inhabit it, so I must unnearth its wardens."

---

---

I think you could afford to considerably reduce the cost of this card. The once per turn condition, coupled with the fact counters are lost when a creature / planeswalker is exiled, means this will never put more than one +1/+1 or loyalty counter on a creature/planeswalker (with the caveat that this can be used to reset the planeswalker's counters) and serve as very strong tools for balancing it. Planar Incision or Teferi's Time Twist show a one-time effect of this (albeit essentially only for creatures) as valued on two mana, whereas going wide such as with Semester's End is put at four mana for a one-time thing. Repeated, although not flicker effects that are triggered of targeting can be seen on Season of Growth and more relevantly on Vesuvian Duplimacy, though again the range is between 2 and 4 mana. Despite Vesuvian's restrictions, I feel the fact that it can even copy legendaries into no longer being legendaries AND it's not once per turn makes it overall stronger than your card even considering the pseudo-countering and planeswalker refreshing. All this is a pretty longwinded way of saying, I feel four mana, probably two of which colored, would've been just fine a cost.


That being said, this is a really cool and creative answer to the Imp, not only because of the less intuitive way it helps avoid the imp's effects, but also because it is really just a great card in generally to theorize the stuff that could be done with it and what it could synergize with.

9/10

---

---

The way the cult leader's hands clutched the arms of his throne was audible, and the angered or scoffing stares of the cult members around the room palpable. The moment Tokata not only declared the edge of the world existed - but that she came from beyond it - "First" stood up in a flash, clearly distressed.

"That's -!" But Tokata continued. First clenched his teeth, even as he saw her tears drop, though if not for the throne behind him he would've taken a step back as she removed her mask to reveal her crying face. "What could you know... from beyond the edge of the world? What are you saying? If it truly was the edge, then that would be it, there would be nothing beyond that! The end of the world, it's boundary... all you did was look at the middle and call it an edge! I've searched for years, decades, CENTURIES! And I... I FOUND NOTHING."

In a rage, the leader removed his hood at last, revealing a pale face markings all the way to his eyes with dark circles under them and black irises, as well as two long ears, each featuring a silver earring. While still showing very little signs of age, there was something decayed and eroded about his looks, albeit they did took little from the natural-born finely sculpted shapes from his nose to the edges of his ears and even the blackened eyes seemed to have a shine like polished obsidian. There were many variations of elves in the multiverse, and this one for those in know, would be classified in many places as a "high elf". Without a doubt, he had lived for far longer than his appearance might suggest, though naturally, the same went for Tokata.

"This world has everything, and yet it has nothing. I've searched, and there isn't a hint of its finality. It merely looks as though there's death. It's just temporary relief, a relief none of us deserve if we're trapped here. If there was an escape... I should have found it long ago. If this place isn't hell, what could it possibly be."

"Master." The demon kneeling besides Tokata finally spoke up again. "It would appear there is no way to settle this matter in a manner of convincing. Though it's a shame, perhaps what she was brought here for should be hurried along."

Still breathing heavily, First looked at the demon. He contemplated for a moment, and then nodded.

"You're correct." He looked at Tokata again. "I have given you my reasons, and a name to call me by. I do not wish for further conflict, nor do I desire to harm that village. I shall sign the blood contract if you will, so that I shall never harm that village, and you shall not interfere with us again. Will you sign it, or must we put your claims of true death upon this world to the test?"


(....)


Wielding a pair of shining spectral daggers, the woman should prove to be more competent a guide and more useful a fight than the other summoned cultist spirit. The only issue was she kept repeating those last thoughts, but as soon as Soumaw picked a direction It could just command her to be silent.

"Master... must tell you... I never told you... Therian..." The ghost wailed.

---

---